Language(s) of presentations:
Abstract:
In the rush to embrace digital technology, much attention is given to the “how to” but much less consideration is given to the “what if”? This session deals with the contextual and philosophical issues that digitization brings in dealing with the preservation and accessibility of audiovisual works. UNESCO guidelines define audiovisual preservation as the “sum total of the steps necessary to ensure the permanent accessibility – forever – of an audiovisual document with the maximum integrity” and define a document as comprising content plus carrier. Do these (traditionally) analogue concepts still hold true in the digital domain? Or do we have to re-think fundamentals? Is there any longer a relationship between content and carrier? Is there a future for our “legacy” collections of analogue carriers? These issues will be probed from a philosophical point of view (Ray Edmondson) and a technical point of view (Albrecht Haefner).
Target audience:
General, but especially those concerned with the conceptual and philosophical underpinnings of audiovisual archiving.
Overall purpose and significance of session:
To probe the applicability of traditional analogue concepts of audiovisual documents and their preservation in the digital domain.
Content description:
Ray Edmondson will present a powerpoint which takes parts of his UNESCO monograph, Audiovisual Archiving: Philosophy and Principles, as a point of departure. Albrecht Haefner’s presentation will consider the technical implications of the same issue. The session is intended to provoke discussion, which will be chaired by Jacqueline von Arb. Jacqueline will also add her commentary on the two papers.
I wish to extend a warm invitation to all archivists and information professionals to the 16th ICA Congress in Kuala Lumpur from 21- 27 July 2008.